Symptoms of a water head
Symptoms of the water head in the adult
Hydrocephalus / water head can occur in adults as well as in early childhood. If a head of water develops in an adult, the various symptoms show up much more quickly. This happens because in adults the skull bones are already firmly fused together at the skull sutures. Therefore, the bony skull cannot give any more space to a swelling brain. The pressure inside the skull increases faster and pushes the delicate brain tissue in much more strongly.
The symptoms are diffuse headaches that are particularly pronounced in the morning. In addition, there is very often nausea and gushing vomiting, which usually occurs when the patient is empty. Depending on the level of pressure created, the wakefulness of the patient changes from slightly sleepy to difficult to wake up to comatose. Even with a light head of water it can lead to psychological changes such as a general change in character up to a listless and lackluster type (akinetic mutism).
As with the baby, double vision and seizures can also occur. Other areas can also be affected by the increasing pressure, so that paralysis and movement disorders as well as restrictions on emptying the bladder can occur as complaints. A weakened breathing and cardiovascular function can also appear as symptoms of a water head in adults and should then be taken very seriously. By shifting the lower parts of the brain through the occipital opening of the skull, vital areas that control breathing and heartbeat are pinched off. Such a complication can quickly become life-threatening in an emergency.
A slightly different, typical symptom is a head of water / Hydrocephalus e vacuo. Here, above all, psychological changes and dementia come to light; due to the decrease in brain matter (Brain atrophy).
The normal pressure hydrocephalus also shows a typical clinical picture, namely a triad of dementia, incontinence and a gait disorder, which is noticeable by small steps, slowing down and shuffling.
Symptoms of a water head in the baby
Unfortunately, the water head is not uncommon in children. It is a disease that often occurs in connection with other more complex diseases and a special symptom that deviates from that of adults.
In the small patients with early childhood water heads, there is an increase in head circumference with tense, possibly bulging fontanelles (Openings of the skull bones in children that are not yet closed) and gaping skull sutures. The individual skull bones are not yet firmly attached in an infant. Therefore, the typical symptoms of a water head show up late in the course. The baby's cranial bones react for a very long time in such a way that they slide further apart when the brain and its meninges increase in volume due to a water build-up. They make room for the swelling brain. The first symptom of a water head in a baby is therefore a significant increase in the size of the back of the head compared to the rest of the head. When the skull bones slide apart, it often becomes apparent that the skull sutures and fontanelles remain unlocked for a very long time. If no therapy is carried out in this phase, the size disproportion between the face and the back of the head remains.
Further information on this topic can be found at: Head of water in the baby
The increased accumulation of brain water in and around the brain often leads to other complaints. These symptoms include nausea and gushing vomiting, especially on an empty stomach. In addition, there are very often headaches, which, together with the nausea, often makes itself felt in the child as "whining" and strong restlessness.
A so-called sunset phenomenon often occurs in babies in particular. Pediatricians use this to describe the symptom of eyes rolled down so that only the upper part of the iris above the lower eyelid can be seen. The nerves that are responsible for the eye muscles are pinched by the increased brain water and cause this eye position. As a result, the child often sees double vision.
Symptoms of epilepsy can also occur due to the increasing pressure within the brain and the diverging of the brain tissue. Especially the childhood forms of epilepsy show a colorful picture of movement and cramping patterns. A head of water can also bring other symptoms such as paralysis and tremors with it and should always make you think of a head of water.
You might be interested in the following article:
- Increased intracranial pressure - signs, causes, and treatment
- Therapy of the water head
In the course of the disease, the optic nerve becomes stunted (optic atrophy) and strabismus (Strabismus).
Older children with water heads also show other symptoms. With them, signs of intracranial pressure are in the foreground, i.e. changes in behavior in connection with headaches and vomiting as well as congestive papillae. A congestive papilla is a swelling of the optic nerve head (Optic nerve), which is located on the retina. Such a congestive papilla manifests itself in the patient as headaches and visual disturbances.
Other symptoms of a water head
Vomit
Vomiting as a symptom of a head of water is often one of the first signs of such a problem. It is particularly characteristic that it occurs especially when you are sober and then in the gush. This symptom is observed in adults as well as in children or infants. It is caused by increased pressure in the skull, which affects the vomiting center.
lethargy
Depending on how strong the pressure increase in the interior of the skull is and how quickly the water head builds up, the symptom of lethargy on the part of the patient appears. If the pressure increases rapidly, the affected person will be drowsy if there is little water retention. With more pressure from a more pronounced water head, long-term sleep can result, from which the patient can be awakened only with difficulty or even lead to a coma. If, on the other hand, a slowly developing head of water occurs, the patients appear slowed down, listless and aspontaneous. In addition, their behavior often changes noticeably and often appears very inappropriate.
You can also find more interesting information about lethargy here: Sleep disorder - fatigue
Seizures
In infants as well as adults with the formation of a water head, seizures can occur as a result of the pressure increase inside the skull. Strictly speaking, they are not epilepsy, as they are caused by the increase in pressure and regress again after its therapy. However, at first glance they seem like one.Muscle spasms and tremors can be a part of these water head seizures and are therefore easily mistaken for epilepsy.
For more information read also: Symptoms of epilepsy
Enlarged skull
An enlarged skull usually only occurs in babies with a water head. The cranial bones are not completely fused at this age and can easily give way to the increasing brain volume by diverging. However, this enlarges the child's skull, sometimes even enormously. If pressure-relieving therapy is not intervened in this phase, a disproportion between the skull and face of the person remains. In Germany, enlarged skulls in an adult due to a water head are no longer to be expected in infancy. This is ensured by a comprehensive, good supply of paediatricians and surgeons who can remove the increased brain water.
